Spring-wheel.



R. STOCK.

SPRING WHEEL.

APPLICATION TILED MAY 27, 1911. I 1,014,858., Patented Jan. 16,.L9.12.

. 2 SHEETS-SHEET R. STOCK. SPRING WHEEL. APPLICATION FILED MAYQ'I, 1911.

Patented Jan. 16, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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I New York,

ROBERT STiJCK, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SPRING-WHEEL.

Be; it known that I,

il nprovements the following is a specification. Thisinvention relates to that class of stand the wear and is subjected particularly during hard usage,

to suit the load 20 I spring wheels in which the resilient members are mounted between the fellyof the wheel and a flexible casing extending cireumferentially around the telly.

It is the object of this inventionto provide a spring wheel of this character which can be constructed substantially so as to withtear to which the same which is capable of being readily adjusted designed to be carried by the wheel, and which can be readily dismembered and reassembled when necessary for inspection or repairs.

In the accompanying drawings consisting of 2 sheets: Figure 1 1s a side elevation of a spring wheel embodying my improvements showing the rim of the wheel partly broken away. Fig. 2 is a similar View showing the outermost-layer orsheathing of the tire casi'ng broken away. Fig. 3 is a detached side spring adjusting mechanism.

elevation of one of the followers of the I Fig.- at is a detached side elevation of one of the tubular adjusting screws of the spring adjusting mechanism. Fig. 5 .tudinal section, on an enlarged scale, of the telly, tire casing and associated parts. Fig. 6 1s a "vertical cross section, on an enlarged scale, in line 66,

Fig. 1. Figs. 7 and 8 are fragmentary horizontal sections in the correspondingly numbered lines in Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of one of the spring adjusting followers. Fig. 10 is a similar view of one of the inner members of the easing. Fig. 11 is a similar View of one of the inneradjusters or yokes of the tire casing. Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views."

The wheel which. is shown in the drawings for illustrating the application of my in- 'vention comprises a wooden felly 1, a channel-shaped rim 2 secured to the outer side J of the telly, a hub 3 and radial spokes 4 connecting the hub and felly. Although this construct-ion is preferred the same may be varied, if desired.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed May 27, 1911.

is a fragmentary longi- Patented Jan. 16,1??15 3. Serial No. 629,769.

The tire casing as a whole is constructed.

casing faces inwardly or toward the channel of the wheel rim. In its preferred form the casing comprises an outer layer or sheathing of flexible fibrous non-metallic material, such as leather or rubber, having a continuous peripheral or tread portion 5 and two side or radial portions 6 which are continuous circumferentially and are arranged at their inner edges within the radial flanges of the wheel rim. On its inner side the sheathing is provided with a. U-shaped tension lining which cooperates with other parts for securing the sheathing to the wheel rim and telly. This tension lining consists preferably of an inner layer 7 of canvas or similar fibrous flexible fabric and an outer layer 8 of metal, preferably thin sheet metal,

which is interposed between the outer side of the canvas layer and the inner side of the leather or rubber sheathing. The tread portion of the tension lining may be secured to the sheathing in any suitable way, for instance by means of rivets 9, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, while the side portions of the lining may be secured to the side portions of the sheathing by cement or vulcanization.

The trend portion of the tension lining is preferably continuous but the radial or side portions thereof are cut out at intervals so as to form V-shaped notches l0 and V- shaped tabs 11 which alternate with said notches. The inner ends of these tabs are connected with adjusting deviceswhich will be presently described and the notches be tween the same permit the lining ,to be pressed inwardly under the load and to expand when relieved from the load without liability of cramping or buckling the same.

The means whereby the casing of the tire is held in place and adjusted radially-are constructed as follows: 12 represents a, plu

rality of tubular bearings which are arranged equidistant around the wheehfelly and rim and each of which is seated radially in co-inciding openings formed in the web of the wheel rim and the telly and provided at its outer end with a collar 18 forming a shoulder'which bears against the outeriside of the wheel rim and at its inner end with a collar-l4 forming a shoulder which bears against the inner side of the telly. The

bearing.

outer collar 13 is preferably formed integrally on the bearin sleeve while the inner collar 14 is prefera ly constructed in the form of a screw nut which engages with the externally threaded inner end of the tubular bearing. In each of these tubular bearings is journaled a tubular adjusting screw 15 which is capable of rotation in the hearing but held against axial or lengthwise movement therein. For this purpose the tubular adjusting screw is preterably provided near its outer end with a collar 16 forming a shoulder which bears againstthe outer end of its tubular bearing and near its inner end the same is provided with a transverse pin 17 forming a shoulder which bears against the inner end of the tubular Turning of the tubular adjusting screw may be eflected n various ways but preferably by constructing the inner end 18 of the same of flat sided form so as to permit of applying a wrench or other hand 1 tool thereto. The tubular adjusting screw is provided with an internal screw thread 19 and .the inner end of the same is provided on its periphery with an external screw thread 20. 21 represents a plurality of inner adjusting bars or yokes which are arranged trans-.

versely in an annular row within the channel-shaped wheel rim and each of which is provided centrally with an internally screw threaded opening 22 which receives the external thread on one of the tubular adjusting screws 15 while the opposite ends of each yoke are provided with annular'grooves 23 forming reduced necks on the yoke which engage with openings or perforations 24 at the inner ends of a corresponding pair of tabs of the casing lining.

25 represents a plurality of outer adjusting members or followers which are arranged in an annular row within the inner part of the tire casing and each of which is constructed in the form of a plate which is provided centrally on its inner side with an inwardly projecting externally threaded adjusting shank or stem 26 which engages with the internal screw thread of one of the tubular adjusting screws, and on opposite sides of the adjusting stem with two inwardly projecting guide pins 27 which slide radially in openings 28 formed in the companion inner adjusting bar on opposite sides of its central opening. The screw connections between the adjusting screw 15 and the inner and outer adjusting members 21, 25 are so constructed that upon turning the adjusting screw in one direction the inner and outer adjusters 21, 25 Will be separated, in other words, the inner adjuster 21 is moved inwardly and the outer adjuster 25 outwardly, while upon turning the adjusting screw in theopposite direction the adjusters will be moved toward each other.

In the space between the adjusters and the tread of thetire casing is arranged a plurality of sets of spiral springs each set consisting preferably of a plurality of coil springs 29, 30, 31 which are of different diameters and are nested or arranged concentrically one within the other. The inner ends of each nest of springs bear against the outer sides of one of the outer adjusters 25 while the outer ends of each set of springs bear against a supporting ring 32 arranged on the inner side of the tread of the casing and preferably constructed of spring steel. The inner ends of each nest or set of springs are preferably held against displacement relatively to each other by means of a plurality of concentric centering projections, ribs or flanges 33 formed on the outer side of each outer adjuster and forming a plurality of concentric seats in which the inner ends of the springsof each set rest. .The out-er ends of the springs of each set are held against lateral displacement within the tire casing by means of a centering lug or projection 34: secured centrally to the inner side of the supporting ring and engaging within the bore of the central spring of the -respective set. Fdr the purpose of increasing the supporting area -of the several springs the members of each setare preferably wound into substantially rectangular form, as shown in Fig. 7 thereby permitting of employing a larger amount of stock in each set of springs and also supporting the tire casing more uniformly over its entire tread.

Forv the purpose of increasing the resisting capacity or stiffening the several springs of the wheel so as to enablethe same to sustain a greater load the several adjusting screws 15 are turned in the proper direction for separating each pair of inner and outer adjusters, thereby causing the tire casing to be drawn inwardly andthe springs to be pushed outwardly; whereby the tension upon these springs is increased and the wheel is caused to ride harder for use in transport ing heavy loads. Upon turning each adjusting screw in the opposite direct-ion the pair of inner and outer adjusters associated with this adjusting screw are caused to approach each other, whereby the springs are permitted to expand and the tire casing is permitted to move outwardly, thereby reducing the tension on the springs so that they are softer and better adapted for carrying light loads. My improved spring wheel is thus capable of being readily adapted for the particular service to which the wheel is to be put without necessitating manufacturing a variety of sizes to meet difierence requirements. Furthermore, the appearance of this wheel closely resembles the usual pneumatic tire and itis capable of being applied to wheels as now ordinarily; constructed. Moreover, the internal parts of this spring wheel are fully protected against dust, dirt and moisture so that the same is not liable to wear unduly or become inoperative by rustin I claim as my invention:

1. A spring wheel comprising a telly, a tire casing arranged around the telly, springs engaging with the inner side of the tire casing, and adjusting devices constructed to draw the casing inwardly and press the springs outwardly or vice versa comprising a follower bearing against the inner ends of said springs and provided with an inwardly projecting screw-stem, an adjusting screw journaled on the telly and having an internal screw thread which engages with said stein and a yoke connected with said casing and having aninternally screw threaded opening which engages with an external screw thread on the adjusting screw. I

2. A spring Wheel comprising a felly, a tire casing arranged around the folly, springs engaging with the inner side of the tire casing, and adjusting devices constructed to draw the casing inwardly and press the springs outwardly or vice versa comprising a follower bearing againstthe inner ends of said springs and provided with an inwardly projecting screw stem and two inwardly projecting guide pins on opposite sides of said stein, a yoke connected at opposite ends with said casing provided centrally with a screw threaded opening and on oppositesides of its center with guide openings which receive said guide pins, and an adjusting screw journaled on the telly and having an internal screw thread which engages with said stem and an external screw thread which engages with said central open-.

Witnesses EDWARD D. DEVLIN,

R. B. STAFFORD. 

